BethCravey's blog

In the 'in case you wondered' department:

Recently reinstated Clay County Commissioner Christy Fitzgerald remains term limited, despite her absence from the board for two years of her term.

Fitzgerald was suspended from office in 2006 by then-Gov. Jeb Bush after being indicted on theft and misconduct charges. She was recently acquitted in the final of three trials and reinstated to the commission by Gov. Charlie Crist.

But her absence does not give her a break from the county charter's two-term limit. Since she was elected to two consecutive terms, she cannot seek re-election after her current term ends, said a spokeswoman for the Clay County Supervisor of Elections Office.

In May, the Clay County School Board will consider whether to increase or decrease the educational impact fee or maintain the same amount.

What do you think the school board should do and why? Email Beth Cravey at beth.cravey@myclaysun.com.

A Clay County group’s planned referendum to abolish two new at-large County Commission seats has stalled because of a wording error.

The ballot title on petitions circulated by Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability Committee for the commission membership change had more words than the number allowed by state law, said Supervisor of Elections Barbara Kirkman.

Eight people were arrested in Green Cove Springs Friday as part of a year-long investigation into illegal narcotics sales.

Operation Clean Streets was a joint effort by the city police department, as well as the Clay County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State Fire Marshal's Office and the Orange Park Police Department, said a statement by Green Cove Springs Police Chief Robert Musco.

At 6 p.m., officers simultaneously executed five residential search warrants at residences in Green Cove Springs that had been the scene of "numerous narcotics cases," the statement said. The warrants were for two residences on Idlewild Avenue and one each on Palm Street, Love Drive and South Vermont Avenue.

Teachers and other school employees can get their personal tax returns done for free March 30-April 5 at Liberty Tax Service in Middleburg.

The free offer runs through Saturday.

Liberty’s Clay County office is 2620 Blanding Blvd., Suite 2, Middleburg, FL 32068, in the Ace Hardware shopping center. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon- 5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, call 291-2849.

Cathy Richardson, vice principal at Lakeside Junior High, has been named as the next principal at Lake Asbury Junior High.

Richardson will succeed Ed Paulk, a veteran administrator who opened the Lake Asbury school in 2005 and is retiring at the end of the school year, said Superintendent David Owens.

For more, read the Saturday edition of My Clay Sun.

State and county agencies will host a free workshop  on Thursday to help Clay County residents protect their homes and property from wildfires.

 “How to Have a Firewise Home” will be sponsored by the Florida Division of Forestry, the Clay County Department of Public Safety and Clay County Fire Rescue.

A Clay County watchdog group seeking a referendum to abolish two new at-large County Commission seats has tentatively collected enough petitions to get the issue on the November ballot.

The Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability Committee submitted a final round of 1,179 petitions Tuesday, said Linda Hoover, office manager of the Clay County Supervisor of Elections. But signatures on those petitions have not yet been certified as those of registered voters, she said.

The Times-Union would like to talk to people who formerly lived in Cuba about their reactions to Fidel Castro’s annoucement he is resigning as president. 

Contact staff writer Charlie Patton at 359-4413 or at charlie.patton@jacksonville.com. If you send an e-mail, please include a phone number where you can be contacted.

Signs for candidates or political causes may be placed near election poiling places, but there are regulations governing their placement.

Such signs must be at least 100 feet from the entrance to the poll location, according to the Clay County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Also, the county sign ordinance prohibits signs in the public right of way.